Word 2010 Macros disappear when Word is closed

Anonymous
2011-01-17T14:38:14+00:00

Hi folks,

I've been using Word since the beginning of time and using simple macros in Word to increase efficiency.  I recently upgraded (or downgraded) to Word 2010 and now the macros disappear when I close Word.  I've checked everywhere to fix this annoyance and changed the Trust Centre settings to enable macros, made sure I'm saving them in the correct template, even checked the add-ins.  What was once a simple and elegant little function has morphed into a complicated labryinth of settings.  I thought software upgrades were to make the process more intuitive and simple but here I've spent over an hour trying to find a solution.  The 90 days of support for Office is a joke. After phoning in to 1-800-668-7975 I went through 10 questions with the 'electronic host. ' Finally you get a person who refers you to the Word Professional support person who then tells you to go to a website and search the forums. I've been a support of Microsoft products for years but I think this is the beginning of the end for Microsoft. Windows 7 is certainly a big improverement over the last two OSs but Office Word 2010 is a pain.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2011-01-17T15:24:33+00:00

Word 2010 stores macros in the same manner as earlier versions - in templates, documents and by default the normal template.

If you have an old normal.dot file with your macros from an earlier Word version, rename the Word 2010 normal template (normal.dotm) to oldnormal.dotm with Word closed.

Put the old normal.dot file in the same folder as oldnormal.dotm and restart Word. Word will read the old template and create a new normal template. From Word Options > Advanced > Save - Check the option to prompt to save the normal template (and preferably the option to create backups). Close Word and you should get a prompt to save the normal template. Save it!

Remove the old normal.dot from the folder and restart Word. Your macros should be available. Whether they will work correctly in Word 2010 rather depends on what they do.

If you don't have an old normal.dot file - just complete the other steps. You will have to add macros to the resulting template.

By default the Word Startup and User Templates folders are trusted folders. If you have moved those locations from the default settings you will need to add the folders to the trusted folders list.

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

www.gmayor.com

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  1. Stefan Blom 352.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2011-11-28T09:35:14+00:00

    Read through the general troubleshooting steps again and see if something comes up:

    How to troubleshoot problems that occur when you start or use Word 2010, Word 2007, Word 2003, or Word 2002.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-12-13T01:07:05+00:00

    Add me to the list of frustrated macro lovers who don't like the way they work in 2010 (or don't work!). In 2003 you clicked on Macros / View Macros and got a list of existing macros. You could choose the one you wanted and click Run (or whatever). I didn't use keyboard shortcuts; I didnt use buttons; didnt have to, didnt want to, still don't.  I use repetitive paragraphs all the time. It used to be so easy. If I have to go through all the described gobbledegook in 2010, macros are worthless to me. It will increase my productivity time greatly, but I'll have to go back to typing those repetitive paragraphs every time I need them! Thanks so much Microsoft!!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-12-13T07:05:00+00:00

    Frankly nothing has changed in Word 2010. Macros work the same way as they have in every version since Word 97. If you want to access the dialog you describe press ALT+F8 (which was the same keyboard shortcut as in those earlier versions and calls exactly the same dialog).

    If you prefer to click buttons the dialog is also called by the Macros button on the View and Developer tabs.

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  4. Charles Kenyon 170.9K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2011-12-13T11:59:41+00:00

    First, I agree with everything Graham said.

    Second, if what we are talking about is boilerplate text a macro is not the best way to get it. You would want to be using AutoText (Building Blocks in Word 2010). You create an AutoText entry and save it. You can attach a keyboard shortcut to it if you want.

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